Apple has published a new guide to help parents use the child safety tools introduced in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. Called Building Healthy Digital Habits: A Guide for Families, the resource was developed with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and focuses on creating balanced, age-appropriate technology routines.

The guide presents six steps for families, covering screen time, online safety, communication controls, and how parents can revisit their approach as children grow. Apple’s recommendations address digital use alongside sleep, exercise, schoolwork, and time with friends and family.

What Apple’s family guide recommends

Apple encourages parents to begin with a conversation about device use rather than imposing limits without explanation. The guide suggests involving children in setting expectations so they understand the purpose of screen time rules and have a role in creating the family’s plan.

It also recommends creating a Child Account. Apple says this enables age-based safeguards and gives parents access to controls for managing a child’s experience across supported devices.

Families can then review safety settings for websites and apps. Apple highlights features such as Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, which allow parents to review new apps and websites with their children before they are accessed or downloaded.

Screen Time schedules and communication safety

The guide explains how parents can use Time Allowances and Schedules to establish different rules for device use. These settings are intended to help families balance online activity with sleep, school responsibilities, physical activity, and time spent together.

Parents can also manage who their children communicate with. Apple says Communication Safety is enabled by default for users under 18 and is designed to help protect children from viewing or sharing sensitive content.

The final step is to continue discussing technology habits over time. As children become older, families can adjust their rules and controls to reflect changing needs, responsibilities, and levels of independence.

New parental controls in iOS 27

Apple added expanded parental control options and redesigned Screen Time in iOS 27. Parents can select which apps children are allowed to use, monitor and control website access, manage approved contacts, and create separate screen time schedules based on the time of day.

Apple says the updated Screen Time experience requires every device in a Family Sharing group to run the corresponding current-generation software, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27. Families with older software versions may not be able to use the full set of controls together.

Age-based screen time guidance

The resource includes AAP recommendations organized by age, from infants through teenagers. It also offers strategies intended to help children build healthier screen habits, rather than treating daily device limits as the only measure of well-being.

Apple’s timing comes as the company faces regulatory scrutiny over child safety in markets including the UK, United States, and Australia. The new guide gives families practical instructions for using Apple’s controls while placing those tools within broader conversations about children’s health and digital habits.